Godzilla was Sold Out So we lucked into Million Dollar Arm

I'm normally not a big monster-movie fan. I haven't seen any of the Transformers or Marvel movies, for example, but there was something about Godzilla that made me (much to my wife's surprise) want to go see it. Maybe it was just nostalgia for those great ABC 4:30 Movies I watched as a kid that had such great intros.

Decades before Shark Week was launched ABC used to have weeks dedicated to themes like Godzilla and the Planet of the Apes. I recall that when I was a kid (a time when HBO didn't exist) I couldn't wait to get home to watch many of the movies.

So it was with that idea in mind I headed with my son and two of his friends to see Godzilla. My son recommended we buy tickets on-line in advance, but I assured him there was no way a 5 o'clock Sunday movie would be sold out. "We'll probably have the theater to ourselves," I said.

Well, suffice it to say that at 5:10 we were looking at the board for options. I like Jon Hamm as an actor (not as much as my wife) and I heard good things about﻿﻿Million Dollar Arm.﻿﻿ It was from Disney and rated PG. A good alternative I thought.

But I was wrong. Million Dollar Arm wasn't just a good movie...it was a GREAT movie with all the elements that make movie making special. I was moved many times while watching it.

One of the things I liked best about the movie was the way it accurately portrayed the Indian culture. I have had the privilege of getting to know hundreds of Indian Americans throughout my career and have come to truly appreciate and value the Indian people and their culture. The Indians portrayed in the movie---kind, family oriented, humble, funny, and intelligent--reminded me of so many of the wonderful clients with whom I worked during the years. In many ways, Million Dollar Arm is a love letter to the Indian culture while being what I found to be a pitch perfect (no pun intended) representation of the Indians I know.

The movie does a wonderful job of weaving together multiple story lines as it builds to a dramatic conclusion. Hamm does a great job, but I think the movie was carried by the four Indian actors--Hamm's partner at the agency, the two pitchers, and their coach.

The cinematography and images from the India shoot were fantastic. Plenty of tension, dramatic twists, and lots of laughs. Just a wonderful "Disney-type" movie and as a father it was great that it was rated PG.

I give Million Dollar Arm five stars and my son and his two friends agreed. As a matter of fact, on the drive home we all said that while we still want to see Godzilla we were happy with the way our Sunday afternoon turned out.

If you're looking for a great family movie that will inspire you and give you some encouragement, I can guarantee you'll enjoy Million Dollar Arm. It was an unexpected treat that I'm sure anyone will enjoy.

Craig Faanes

05/20/2014 6:31am

I have seen Million Dollar Arm three times - twice yesterday. It just gets better and better each time! Saturday night I had the pleasure and honor of meeting the real Rinku Singh at a baseball game in Bradenton Florida. He is as kind and humble for real as he is portrayed in the movie - a great person honorably portrayed in the best baseball movie since Bull Durham. My recommendation is to run -don't walk- run to the nearest theater and enjoy what will likely be the best film you will see in 2014.